Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956

Number 26 of 1956

IRISH NATIONALITY AND CITIZENSHIP ACT 1956

REVISED

Updated to 7 April 2025

This Revised Act is an administrative consolidation of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956. It is prepared by the Law Reform Commission in accordance with its function under the Law Reform Commission Act 1975 (3/1975) to keep the law under review and to undertake revision and consolidation of statute law.

All Acts up to and including the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (2/2025), enacted 14 April 2025, and all statutory instruments up to and including the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 (Revocation of Certificate of Naturalisation) (Prescribed Forms) Regulations 2025 (S.I. No. 122 of 2025), made 7 April 2025, were considered in the preparation of this Revised Act.

Disclaimer: While every care has been taken in the preparation of this Revised Act, the Law Reform Commission can assume no responsibility for and give no guarantees, undertakings or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness or up to date nature of the information provided and does not accept any liability whatsoever arising from any errors or omissions. Please notify any errors, omissions and comments by email to

revisedacts@lawreform.ie.

Number 26 of 1956.

IRISH NATIONALITY AND CITIZENSHIP ACT 1956

REVISED

Updated to 7 April 2025

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

Part I.

PRELIMINARY.

Section

1.

Short title.

2.

Definitions.

3.

Regulations.

4.

Expenses.

4A.

Service of notices or documents.

5.

Repeals and saving for existing citizenship.

Part II.

CITIZENSHIP.

6.

Citizenship by birth in the island of Ireland.

6A.

Entitlement to Irish citizenship of persons born to certain non-nationals.

6B.

Residence in the island of Ireland for the purposes of section 6A.

7.

Citizenship by descent.

8.

Acquisition of citizenship on marriage. (Repealed)

9.

Citizenship of posthumous children. (Repealed)

10.

Citizenship of foundlings.

11.

Citizenship of adopted children.

11A.

Citizenship of children born as result of donor-assisted human reproduction procedures or surrogacy.

12.

Grant of citizenship as token of honour.

13.

Citizenship of persons born on ships and aircraft.

Part III.

NATURALISATION.

14.

Certificates of naturalisation.

15.

Conditions for issue of certificate.

15A.

Naturalisation of spouses of Irish citizens.

15B.

Naturalisation of minors born in State.

15C.

Calculation of continuous residence for purposes of sections 15, 15A and 15B.

15D.

Saver for certificates of naturalisation.

15E.

Transitional provisions relating to applications for certificates of naturalisation.

16.

Power to dispense with conditions of naturalisation in certain cases.

16A.

Calculation of period of residence in relation to application for naturalisation.

17.

Form of application.

18.

Effect and operation of certificate of naturalisation.

19.

Revocation of certificates of naturalisation.

20.

Acquisition of citizenship by person who is married or a civil partner.

Part IV.

LOSS OF CITIZENSHIP.

21.

Renunciation of citizenship.

22.

Non-effect of death or loss of citizenship on person’s spouse, civil partner or children.

23.

Marriage or civil partnership not to effect loss of citizenship.

24.

Loss of citizenship by operation of foreign law under section 21 of Act of 1935.

25.

Preservation of obligations on cesser of citizenship.

Part V.

GENERAL.

26.

Mutual citizenship rights.

27.

Registry of births abroad.

28.

Certificates of nationality.

28A.

Applications for certificates of nationality by persons to whom section 6A applies.

29.

Extension to all citizens of statutory rights conferred on persons born in Ireland.

29A.

Offences.

30.

Fees payable on declaration.

31.

Collection and disposal of fees.

Acts Referred to

Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1935

No. 13 of 1935

Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 1937

No. 39 of 1937

Adoption Act, 1952

No. 25 of 1952

Number 26 of 1956.

IRISH NATIONALITY AND CITIZENSHIP ACT 1956

REVISED

Updated to 7 April 2025

AN ACT TO MAKE PROVISION FOR THE ACQUISITION AND LOSS OF IRISH NATIONALITY AND CITIZENSHIP. [17th July, 1956.]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:—